There is nothing quite like having the sea on your doorstep. Who needs a garden or adventure playground with endless rock pools to explore, the winner of the beach tennis finals to crown, a bossy older sister to bury up to her neck in sand, and a fresh fish and chip supper and ice cream to look forward to?

My absolute favourite places include tiny fishing villages, (that still have working harbours), between the lizard and land's end, with colourful locals with tales to tell and experienced sea dogs to pat and give biscuits to, and further up the coast wonderful long unspoilt beaches of the West Pentire headland nr Crantock. See our Cornwall page.

We stay in either cottages over looking the harbour (absolute bliss) or small campsites a short walk from beaches.

What are you looking for in your ideal coastal family holiday?

Petit Bot bay on Guernsey.

Sandy, sheltered, good coffee (ie not instant) at the cafe. Ducks and ducklings walking up and down.

But very popular so get there early and really needs a car as at the bottom of a steep hill.

For a bus accessible beach, L'Eree is super with view of distant lighthouse and Lihou island.

Finally, cross from St Peter Port to Herm and go to the Shell beach on the far side of the island. Long sandy beach and completely unspoilt.

Adam

'ideal' is hard, north norfolk is stunning and open, north devon for beaches and surf fun but we have recently been converted and were surprised by Littlehampton. It was 'ideal' because the coast and beaches were high quality and sandy, it was easy for us to get to and there were lots of other places for us to explore (such as Arundel castle) so it had something for the whole family. So 'family ideal' littlehampton, personal ideal...little village called 'Winterton on sea' in Norfolk

Sussex by the Sea; Arundel, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton & Sussex Downs